Open house Saturday for rec center at Hannah and Friends Farm.

Open house Saturday for rec center at Hannah and Friends Farm.

To Hannah and her friends with Â?different abilities,Â? however, the opening of the new Eck Rec Center marks the beginning of a new home.

After numerous fundraising events and months of construction that is still ongoing, the first buildings are completed on the Hannah and Friends Farm, which will serve as a home for adults with special needs.

And on Saturday, the public can get a look at the rec center named in memory of Frank Eck, the late Notre Dame benefactor, for his generous support of the farm.

An open house for the public will be held at the center from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. The 30-acre property is off Hollyhock Road, north of Auten Road in Clay Township.

Weis and her husband, Notre Dame football coach Charlie Weis, are the parents of Hannah, a 13-year-old special needs child and the inspiration for Hannah and Friends.

The goal of the open house is to show the public that there is a new option when it comes to caring for an adult with Â?different abilities.Â?

Visitors will be able to tour the rec center, walk along the street that goes around the farm grounds and see the foundations of the first two residential, ranch-style homes that are expected to be completed by December, according to Maura Weis.

Â?This is our opportunity to say thank you to the community for being so supportive,Â? she said.

Maura said that she and Charlie (who will not be present Saturday) are also thankful to the St. Joseph County Council for its support.

The open house will allow visitors to learn what the farm will offer to the community as well as how the community can become involved with the farm.

The Weises said they are aware there are many individuals who want to help with the farm.

Â?This is a calling for a lot of peopleÂ? of various ages, Maura said.

Â?We want to see schools come out here on field trips, and get involved with our residents,Â? Maura said.

On the other hand, they don't want the residents of the farm to feel like they are being isolated from society outside of their community.

Â?If our residents want to go out into the community, we should let them,Â? Maura said.

She added that it will be emphasized that people with Â?different abilitiesÂ? are an integral part of society.

As for the farm itself, considerable fundraising still needs to take place, Maura said.

She noted that Phase 1 of the farm (including the rec center, the caretakerÂ?s home and four residential homes) will cost nearly $3 million. The homes (a maximum of 16) will cost about $300,000 apiece. (The Weises are personally paying for the barn and office building, she said.)

The Weises want the rec center to be utilized for many functions, including dances and other social events.

Â?We intend to use the room as a place where parents of the residents can come and talk to each other, and catch up about what is going on,Â? Maura said.

Â?Our goal,Â? she added, Â?is for our residents and their families to be happy.Â?